It was quite useful once turned into an expert but not necessarily required.
ご質問ありがとうございます。
「修得すれば便利であるが必要とされ無かった」は英語で「It was quite useful once turned into an expert but not necessarily required.」と言います。
また、長い文章も英訳すると下記の通りになります。
Up until the year 2000, many Japanese people did not consider English to be necessary. It was quite useful once turned into an expert but not necessarily required.
First of all, Japan does not have land borders with other countries therefore, interaction with other people in other languages was limited. Also, until WWII, there was no history of conquest by other people, and in economic activities, the general public had limited opportunities to negotiate using foreign languages as workers because the labor force was provided by their own nationals.
However, that was the situation in the past and I'm sure things will be different from now on.
ご参考になれば幸いです。